Conductor connecting means



March 6, 1962 E. L. VAN DEUSEN CONDUCTOR CONNECTING MEANS Filed Sept. 2,1959 NTOR. PEI/5 V ZWM 0 @5 4 United States Patent 3,024,437 CGNDUCTORCONNECTING MEANS Edmund L. Van Deusen, Laguna Beach, Calif., assignor,by mesne assignments, to Circuit Structures Lab, Inc., Laguna Beach,Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 2, 1959, Ser. No.837,610 8 Claims. (Cl. 33918) This invention relates to an electricalconnecting device having particular application to permitting easyassembh of an electrical test circuit as by being disposed in what iscommonly known as a breadboard.

The connector of the invention permits the easy connection anddisconnection of a plurality of electrical cond'uctors to one anotherregardless of the relative configuration or diameter of the conductors.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I form a conductive eyelethaving a compressible member extending therethrough which may be, forexample, natural rubber. The extensible insert is relatively fixed atone side of the eyelet whereby, if the other end of the extensibleinsert is pulled, the sides of the insert will contract to provide aspace between the side of the insert and the eyelet. A plurality ofconductors may then be inserted in this space, and the extensible insertcan be released and permitted to expand so that the conductors,regardless of their configuration, will be pressed into engagement withthe common conductive eyelet and thus be electrically connected.

In order to release this electrical connection, one merely extends theinsert to release the contact pressure, and the conductors may bewithdrawn from the space between the extended insert and the eyeletsides.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novelelectrical connector for permitting rapid connection and disconnectionof a plurality of electrical conductors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel electricalconnecting means which permits rapid connection and disconnection of aplurality of conductors having dissimilar configirations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnector for a breadboard wherein the connector is easily formed bymass production techniques to permit rapid connection and disconnectionof electrical connectors.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novelelectrical connector comprised of an eyelet having an extensible inserttherein wherein extension of the insert causes it to contract to providea space for insertion of electrical conductors whereby releasing theextensible insert causes it to expand and drive the connectors into highpressure engagement with respect to the eyelet.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extensible memberwhich normally engages a conductive member whereby a strain applied tothe extensible member distorts it away from the conductor to provide aspace between the extensible member and conductive member for receivingat least two conductors which are to be connected together.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a novel breadboardequipped with the connectors of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view through three of the eyelets ofthe breadboard of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the eyelets of FIGURE 2when the extensible insert is distorted by a strain.

See

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3, and shows the insertion of twoelectrical conductors in the space formed between the extendedextensible insert and the eyelet.

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4, and shows the manner in which theextensible insert expands when it is released to force the electricalconductors into high pres sure contact engagement with respect to theeyelet.

FIGURE 6 shows a cross-sectional view through one of the eyelets ofFIGURE 1 wherein a different type of extensible insert is used.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have generally shown a breadboard body 10which is a square or rectangularshaped board and is formed, for example,of a cellulosefilled phenolic. The board 10 has a plurality of holesdrilled therein which receive eyelets such as eyelets 11, 12, i3, 141,15 and 16, which are arranged in any desired mesh configuration toprovide a plurality of connecting points for connecting some particularcircuit array. The eyelets are preferably of a high conductivitymaterial, such as gold-plated brass.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 which shows a crosssectional view througheyelet-s 14, 15 and 16, the eyelets extend through cooperating apertures17, 18 and 19 in board 10, and are then flanged outwardly by anappropriate tool to be secured within their respective board openings.The end eyelets, such as eyelet 11, have a common bus 20, as shown inFIGURE 1, which electrically connects all of the eyelets of row A so asto provide a ground connection where a great number of conductors mustbe connected to ground; and in a like manner a conductor 21 connects allof the eyelets of the bottom row I. Conductors 20 and 21 are of anydesired conductive material, such as a copper-foil having a thickness of0.005 inch A U-shaped extensible insert 22 which may be of naturalrubber forms an extensible insert for each of eyelets 15 and 16, andprotrudes through the top of the board 10 with upper extensions 23 and24 respectively. In a like manner, a U-shaped extensible member 25 willcooperate with eyelets 13 and 14 with extension 26 extending beyond thetop of eyelet 14.

In order to retain U-ohaped members, such as members 25 and 22 to theboard, the extending portions 23, 24 and 26 will have an enlargeddiameter as shown in the figure. To insert the extensible inserts intheir respective apertures, it is clear that the enlarged diameter willbe reduced as by stretching when the material at this portion isextended so that it can fit through the smaller diameter eyelets. Inorder to permit easy extension of extensible members, such as members 22and 25, a central opening, such as opening 27, is provided in theinserts.

In operation, when it is desired to connect a plurality of conductors toone another where the conductors could be the pigtail leads of aresistor, capacitor or transistor, or the like, they can be connected,for example, through eyelet 16 of FIGURE 2. Thus, as is shown in FIGURE3, the extension 24 is distorted or pulled upwardly, as illustrated,whereby the portion of the insert extending through eyelet 16 willcontract to produce an annularshaped opening 280 between the outerdiameter of member 22 extending through eyelet 16 and the inner diameterof eyelet 16.

The conductors, such as conductors 28 and 29 of FIGURE 4, which are tobe connected to one another (and may have diiierent diameters orconfigurations) are then inserted in the annular-shaped opening 28a. Theextension 24 is then released, as shown in FIGURE 5, whereby thematerial extending through the eyelet expands and firmly pressesconductors 28 and 29 into engagement with eyelet 16.

In order to disconnect these members it is only necessary to again graspmanually operable extension 24 and pull it outwardly to form the annularopening 28a, whereby the conductors 28 and 29 may be easily removed fromthe annular opening.

It will be apparent that this type of electrical connection is extremelyrapid whereby a complete circuit can be connected together as forexperimental purposes. Furthermore, since the connector provides a highpressure contact, soldering is not necessary whereby elements such astransistors, diodes and other semi-conductor components which areparticularly sensitive to heat will not be damaged during theexperimental stages associated with the use of the breadboard of FIGURE1.

While the embodiment of FIGURES 2 through 5 illustrate the extensibleinsert for each of the eyelets as being formed of a single U-shapedextensible member which serves adjacent pairs of eyelets, it will beapparent that each eyelet may have a respective extensible insert. Forexample, in FIGURE 6, I have illustrated eyelet 16 of board as beingequipped with an extensible insert 30 of natural rubber wherein theextensible insert is formed with the enlarged extension 31 which issubstantially identical to extensions 23, 24 and 26 of FIGURE 2.However, the insert is retained with respect to eyelet 16 by providingan extended flange 32.

Clearly, however, it is only necessary that one end of the extensibleinsert associated with each eyelet be retained in any manner desired inorder to practice the present invention. Note also that the embodimentsof FIGURES 2 and 6 have the additional advantage of providing aninherently insulated base for the complete breadboard unit.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my novel invention,many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilledin the art, and I prefer therefore to be limited not by the specificdisclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector for connecting a first and second conductor;said electrical connector comprising a conductive member and anextensible member; at least a portion of said extensible member having anormally engaging position with respect to at least a portion of saidconductive member; said extensible member having an exposed manuallyoperable portion; said portion of said extensible member being distortedaway from said normally engaging position with respect to said portionof said conductive member when strain is applied to said exposedmanually operable portion of said extensible member and providing aspace for insertion of said first and second conductors adjacent saidconductive member; release of strain on said exposed manually operableportion of said extensible member causing said extensible member torigidly drive said first and second conductors into engagement withrespect to said conductive member.

2. An electrical connector for connecting a first and second conductor;said electrical connector comprising a conductive member and anextensible member; at least a portion of said extensible member having anormally engaging position with respect to at least a portion of saidconductive member; said extensible member having an exposed manuallyoperable portion; said portion of said extensible member being distortedaway from said normally engaging position with respect to said portionof said conductive member when strain is applied to said exposedmanually operable portion of said extensible member and providing aspace for insertion of said first and second conductors adjacent saidconductive member; release of strain on said exposed manually operableportion of said extensible member causing said extensible member torigidly drive said first and second conductors into engagement withrespect to said conductive member; said conductive member comprising aneyelet.

3. An electrical connector for connecting a first and second conductor;said electrical connector comprising a conductive member and anextensible member; at least a portion of said extensible member having anormally engaging position with respect to at least a portion of saidconductive member; said extensible member having an exposed manuallyoperable portion; said portion of said extensible member being distortedaway from said normally engaging position with respect to said portionof said conductive member when strain is applied to said exposedmanually operable portion of said extensible member and providing aspace for insertion of said first and second conductors adjacent saidconductive member; release of strain on said exposed manually operableportion of said extensible member causing said extensible member torigidly drive said first and second conductors into engagement withrespect to said conductive member; said conductive member comprising aneyelet; said extensible member comprising a plug of elastic insulatingmaterial extending through said eyelet.

4. An electrical connector; said electrical connector comprising aneyelet of conductive material and an insert of elastic insulatingmaterial in said eyelet; said insert of elastic insulating materialbeing extensible within said eyelet to contract the sides of said insertof elastic insulating material in said eyelet to permit insertion ofelectrical conductors between said insert and said eyelet.

5. An electrical connector for an electrical breadboard; said electricalconnector comprising an eyelet of conductive material and an insert ofelastic insulating material in said eyelet; said insert of elasticinsulating material being extensible to contract the sides of saidinsert of elastic insulating material in said eyelet to permit insertionof electrical conductors between said insert and said eyelet.

6. An electrical connector; said electrical connector being comprised ofa hollow conductive member having an insert of extensible materialtherein; one end of said extensible material being substantially fixedwith respect to said hollow member of conductive material; the other endof said extensible member being relatively free to move with respect tosaid hollow conductive member; said rubber insert being extensiblewithin said hollow electrical conductor extension of said relativelymovable end of said extensible member causing contraction of portions ofsaid extensible member within said hollow conductive member to form aspace between said extensible member and said hollow conductive member;said space being adapted to receive at least a first and secondelectrical conductor to be connected to one another; said first andsecond electrical conductors being driven into high pressure contactengagement with said conductive member when said relatively movable endof said extensible member is released and said extensible member expandswithin said hollow conductive member.

7. An electrical connector for an electrical breadboard; said electricalconnector comprising an eyelet of conductive material and an insert ofelastic insulating material in said eyelet; said insert of elasticinsulating material being extensible within said insert to contract thesides of said insert of elastic insulating material in said eyelet topermit insertion of electrical conductors between said insert and saideyelet; said breadbroad having an upper surface and a lower surface; aportion of said insert of elastic insulating material extending belowsaid lower surface of said breadboard to form an insulating support forsaid breadboard.

8. An electrical connector comprising a hollow electric conductor havingan insert of elastic insulating material extending therethrough; a firstportion of said insert of elastic insulating material beingsubstantially fixed with respect to said hollow conductor; a secondportion of said insert of elastic insulating material extending beyondone end of said hollow conductor; said insert of elastic insulatingmaterial being extensible within said hollow electrical conductor tocontract the walls of said 6 insert from the inner walls of said hollowconductor to 2,219,940 Ritz-Weller Oct. 29, 1940 provide a conductorreceiving area. 2,390,706 Hearon Dec. 11, 1945 2,419,683 Henschke Apr.29, 1947 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,735,167 Olsen1956 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,839,595 Felts et a1. June 17, 1958840,537 Weir Jan. 8, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,206,471 Taylor July 2, 1940559,824 France Sept. 22, 1923

